Sunday prayers for Ordinary 27c -October 6th

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to worship

Liturgist:               Your word, O LORD, brightens our lives and guides our paths.

People:                 May our praises be acceptable to You, O God, as You teach us from the scriptures.

Liturgist:               Your ways are our gift forever; they are the joy of our hearts, so we will worship and glorify You, O Living God.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord God and King of the Universe, whose gracious words sustain the nations and whose power is almighty, we gather in Your Holy Name and offer our simple praises to Your Everlasting Majesty. Your divine ways cross over into our human lives and affect our decisions each day. All of our thoughts and deeds are known to You. All of our personal mistakes and secret sins are not hidden from You.

People:                 Eternal God, we are guilty of being selfish and proud, stubborn and bitter, as well foolish and sinful. We regret the self-centered choices that we have made, and the times when we have neglected our faith. We are ashamed of those occasions when we have disappointed You, and of those careless moments when we have dishonored the Name of Jesus. Forgive us, Father God, and hear us now as we personally confess our faults and sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Compassionate Lord, we praise You for hearing our prayers and accepting our pleas for forgiveness. We thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ and for His Sacrifice upon the Cross of Shame, which has given us hope, as well as the unequaled opportunity of being restored to Your favor and grace forevermore. In the Precious Name of Jesus, we pray together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                  Jesus knew that He had to die on the Cross for us. He also knows that we are severely tested by temptation and troubled by weaknesses throughout our lives. He is willing to forgive our sins when we come to Him freely, honestly, and sincerely. So let us exalt His Holy Name and rejoice in His favor forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri

Children’s sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Heal us, O LORD, and enable us to lead faithful lives; help us to trust in You without wavering. Look kindly upon us, LORD; pacify our troubled hearts and ease our anxious minds.

People:                 Your love is always with us; we gain strength from Your Saving Power and Eternal Truth. Heal us from all that harms us so that we may proclaim aloud your praise  and tell of all your wonderful deeds. Hear us now, as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May we lead faithful lives and be grateful for the mercy and compassion of the One, True and Living God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 26)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader :               Holy Spirit, do not forsake us or cause our faith to diminish. Encourage us through Christ’s words and build up our beliefs with His teaching. Open our hearts to His precious ways, and our lives to His Will. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You are the Head of our church and at the center of our lives. All of the ministries and missions, programs and projects, as well as the experiences and events that we share, are sustained by Your Will and fulfilled through Your Love. Bless this offering so that these tokens may be used to enhance Your Kingdom in this community, and to glorify Your Holy Name.  Amen.

Communion

Hymn :                 

Benediction (unison):    May Jesus continually encourage and embrace us; may the Father forgive us and reconcile us to His ways; and may the Holy Spirit make us acceptable in the sight of the One, Triune, and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.

Postlude

Sunday Prayers 22 September - Ordinary 25c

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to worship

Liturgist:               Our souls look for Your favor, O Lord, and we have placed our hopes in Your words.

People:                 All Your promises are trustworthy, O God; help us, in the midst of all that concerns us.

Liturgist:               Fill our lives with an abundance of Your love. May we obey Your will, by praising and glorifying Your Name forever. Amen.

Hymn:

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Lord, whose holiness and perfection are beyond our comprehension; whose power and glory are infinitely above all that we can ever achieve; we humbly bow in Your Presence, seeking Your Salvation, and the comfort of Your Grace.

People:                 Gracious Father, speak to our hearts and change our foolish ways. In the midst of our problems and struggles with life, be our constant guide. When fear or anxiety threaten our faith, be our strength and shield. When we selfishly fall away from Your influence and care, grasp hold of our souls and return us to Your Love. Hear us now as we make our confessions in Christ’s Name.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Lord, we thank You the forgiveness of our past mistakes and of our personal sins. We praise You for bringing Jesus into the world and our lives, so that we may have the opportunity of being restored to Your Holy Kingdom. Therefore, in the Name of our Savior, we make these prayers and unite our hearts in His Spirit, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER.” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                  Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God, whose perfect obedience and holy life fulfilled God’s great plan of salvation. Through Jesus, we have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins, renewed in spirit, and perfectly prepared for God’s Coming Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah, reigns! Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison):    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  The Earth is the LORD's, and everything in it; the world, and all who live in it. For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

People:                 We have come into God’s Holy Presence, seeking His peace in this sacred place.

May the Lord cleanse our souls and grant healing for our hearts; may He lift up our spirits and lead us by His Truth.

Pastor:                  May we receive these blessings from the LORD and may our loved ones be touched by our Savior’s healing power. May we be united as a generation of those who seek Him, who seek God’s healing in all of our lives. Let us come to the Lord with our personal prayers.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  The Lord is strong and mighty. He is the King of Glory and the Healer of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.       (Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 24)

Singing of Sanctuary

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, make us glad in our hearts as we rejoice in Christ’s holy words. Enable us to live in hope through the power of the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Prayer of Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):              Lord Jesus, we follow Your Loving example by sacrificing these gifts from our resources and humbly placing them before Your Holy Throne. Bless these tokens of gratitude for the work of Your church here on Earth. Help us to use these gifts for the proclamation of Your Word, the enhancing of Your Kingdom, and the glorifying of Your Name. Amen.

Hymn                   

Benediction (in unison):                               May Jesus speak to our spirits and lead us throughout our lives; may the Father fortify our faith and send us out into the world to do His work; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to minister to the people we encounter each and every day. Glory to God forevermore. Amen. 

Sunday Prayers 15th September - Ordinary 24c

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Your hands made us and formed us, O Lord; give us understanding to learn Your commands.

People:                 May Your unfailing love be our comfort, according to Your promises to us, Your servants.

Liturgist:               Let Your compassion come to us that we may be blessed; for Your law, O God, is our delight. Let us worship and praise the Lord!

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, Your power brought this universe into being, and Your presence sustains life on this planet. We come before You as Your servants and children, seeking to please You with our praise and serve You with our lives. Throughout the years You have led our people and delivered us from our enemies. You have globally grown Christ’s Church through the seeds of faith which Your Son Jesus has sown in billions of hearts and minds.

People:                 Gracious Lord, the harvest of holiness which You desire from us is not always fulfilled or abundantly clear in our lives. We allow ourselves to weaken our faith by falling prey to temptation, or by making selfish choices and doing sinful acts. Be patient with us and have mercy on our souls. Forgive our faults and pardon our foolish ways. Challenge our choices and change our lives. Hear us now as we come to You individually with our prayers of confession.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Father, without Your compassion, we would not have any everlasting hope. Without Your redeeming love, we would have no opportunity to escape eternal punishment. You have given us Jesus, Your Only Son and He has laid down His life for us. We know that we are unworthy to receive such a wonderful and amazing blessing, so we are truly grateful for all that we have been given.

In Jesus’ Name, we praise You forever and through His words of prayer, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus has come into our world and dwells with us. He seeks to influence our spirits with God’s everlasting love. We are blessed through Him because He sacrificed His life for us. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah and Redeemer, reigns forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  The LORD is our shepherd, He knows all of our needs. He makes us rest in His presence, He gives us peace in the midst of our troubles.

People:                 He heals our wounded souls and guides us through our fears. Throughout all that deeply troubles us and in the face of all that harms us, we will not be afraid, for the LORD is with us; His strength and power will restore us to health.

Pastor:                  Lord, spread out the bounty of Your Love before us and anoint us with healing. May your goodness and love be granted to our families and friends. May Your peace be restored to their lives and may You heal them of all that harms them. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May we dwell in the Holy Presence of God from this time forth and forevermore. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                (Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 23)

Unison singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, may the words of our Lord Jesus Christ always be with us and be foremost in our minds. May His teaching become our strength and may His gospel enable us to overcome our troubles and fears. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, by bringing this offering before You, we hope to please You with our gifts. We do this to glorify Your Holy Name and to bring faith, hope, and love into the lives of other people through Your message, ministry, and mission, from this church to the community at large. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (in unison):               May Jesus keep us focused on His work throughout the world; may the Father bless us with mercy and compassion; and may the Holy Spirit enrich our lives with faith to overcome fear, hope to bring us health, and love to defeat loneliness, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Church Prayers: Ordinary 23c - September 08

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Let us come together and praise the Lord, who is our Protector and Redeemer, as well as our Deliverer and Savior.

People:                 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Liturgist:               We will worship the One, True, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord God Almighty, You are our shield and sanctuary, our righteous rock and glorious redeemer. Look compassionately upon Your people and lift our spirits up when we are in great need.

People:                Loving Father, we know that there are times when we make mistakes and let our bad feelings compromise our faith. We confess to being proud and stubborn, foolish and haughty, especially when dealing with others who displease or disagree with us.

People:                Merciful Lord, when we stray from Your path and follow our own ways, or when we neglect worshiping You and devote ourselves to things that please us, forgive us for these sinful distractions and selfish desires. Have mercy on our souls and please hear us now as we confess to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, our sins separate us from You and keep us from being good Christians. Only Jesus can return us to Your Kingdom; only He can restore us to who and what we should be in Your eyes. We place our lives into Christ’s hands and through His sacred words, we continue to pray, saying "Our Father…THE LORD'S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ is the Greatest Savior that the world has ever known. We are blessed by His obedience and saved by His sacrifice. No matter who we think we are, we are all sinners, standing in the need of deliverance and requiring Christ’s forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name, we claim that pardon and salvation. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  O Lord, if we have been foolish and disappointed You, forgive us. If we have been sinful and angered You, be merciful to us. Sometimes we suffer sickness and experience illness because of our selfish ways and sinful habits. Pain and isolation, fear and anxiety, as well as guilt and worry overwhelm our spirits, damage our souls, weaken our bodies, and stifle our minds.

People:                 O Lord, sometimes our faith is feeble and our confidence is crushed. We need You, Lord, to save us from all that diminishes us and heal us from all that harms us. We wait for You, O God, and seek Your answer. We  focus our thoughts on You, looking for Your love. May You also remember our loved ones, Lord, and never forsake them in the midst of their troubles. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  Come quickly to us and help us, O Lord our God and Savior. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

 (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 38)

Unison singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, come among our assembly and bless us with Your presence. Speak to us through Christ’s words and deeds. Let them become living words in our hearts and minds, so that we may pass them on to those we meet. In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You bring meaning into our lives and give us a purpose for our faith. We depend upon You for salvation and look to You each day for guidance. Take these gifts from our tithes and resources. Use them for the life, work, and ministry of Your church in this community, this country, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (in unison):                May Christ write His loving words in each of our hearts; may the Father stand among us and bless our deeds; and may the Holy Spirit keep us obedient to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore.     

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 22C - Sept 01

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Let us lift up our hearts to the One, True, and Living God, whose holy throne is in Heaven.

People:                 We will praise the Lord who has mercy upon us and worship His Sacred Name.

Liturgist:               Let us glorify God, for His blessings continue to sweeten our lives. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Lord, come down among us and bless us with Your Holy presence. Receive this worship from our hearts and these prayers from our souls. You have guided our people for countless generations and counseled our congregations throughout the centuries. Today we seek to please and honor You with our devotions.

People:                Merciful God, we have sinned against You and faltered in our faith. We have made foolish decisions and taken wrong paths. We are guilty of being proud and selfish, as well as being deceitful and dishonest. Forgive us for allowing these sins to blemish our lives. Hear us now as we personally make our confessions to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Loving God, You have given us faith in Jesus to overcome our fears. He has sacrificed His life to extinguish our sins and restore us to You. With Christ, we are reunited to You and welcomed in Your Kingdom. In His Name, we seek salvation and continue to pray, saying "Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER." (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ’s words and promises are true and will be kept for eternity. We receive the blessings of His mercy through His sacrificial love. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ our King is the Savior of our souls. In Jesus’ Name, we give thanks. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison):    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  We trust in You, O Lord, for You are good, and we seek to enjoy Your strength and salvation. We delight in you, O Lord, and we pray that You will grant us the desire of our hearts and the petitions in our prayers.

People:                 We commit ourselves and our loved ones to You, O Lord, for we trust that You will help us and heal us from all harm. You brighten our lives with the promises of Your love. We pray that You will listen to our concerns and cause our fears to diminish through having faith in You. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  Salvation comes from the Lord, for He is our stronghold in times of trouble. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                  (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 37)

Singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, when Jesus came among us two thousand years ago, He revealed God’s message of love and grace. Today, we seek to hear and receive the same. Bless us now with His teaching and grant us the courage to apply this lesson in our lives.  In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering and Offertory

Dedication: (in unison – led by pastor) Lord Jesus, generations ago, Your followers sacrificed everything to build Your church and broadcast the good news around the world. Today, we are blessed by their obedience and faith. We bring before You our tithes and offerings, as well as our hearts and lives. Take and receive them for the glory of God’s Kingdom and the praising of Your Name.  Amen. 

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (in unison):               May Christ urge us to continue working for His ministry here on Earth; may the Father reaffirm His love for us each day, and may the Holy Spirit keep leading us, so that we may worship and serve the One, Triune, and Living God,  both now and always Amen.     

Doxology and Postlude